tabla

American  

[tah-bluh, tuhb-luh] / ˈtɑ blə, ˈtʌb lə /

noun

1. a small drum or pair of drums of India tuned to different pitches and played with the hands.

---

tabla British  

/ ˈtɑːblɑː, ˈtʌblə /

noun

1. a musical instrument of India consisting of a pair of drums whose pitches can be varied

---

Etymology

Origin of tabla

1860–65; earlier tubla < Hindi tablā < Arabic ṭabla, derivative of ṭabl drum

Example Sentences

Classical training came early - he learnt tabla alongside vocal training - but so did exposure to popular music.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

“Murmurs” is ultimately through with a rousing tabla and drum set dialogue at the end, reminiscent of his father and Shankar’s gripping finales.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

He is one of the most prominent of the next generation of tabla players poised to take the next step for their instrument, begging the question of whence tabla.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2025

The sleeve notes credit players of the sitar and the tabla, the Kashmiri santoor and the South Indian kanjira.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

Then the clanging of a hammer tuning a tabla.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini